Of the 50 states we cover so far, 10 states say teachers in the state plan don't pay into Social Security from that job (Alaska, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada and Ohio). In 7 states it varies by employer or position, and in 17 states teachers are also covered by Social Security. 16 states aren't settled in our data yet.
This is an independent summary, not affiliated with or endorsed by any retirement system. Each answer comes from that state's own published sources, cited in the table. It covers the main teacher plan in each state; your own tier or employer can change the answer. Always confirm with your retirement system before you decide anything.
Covers all 50 states. "Not covered yet" means our data for that state doesn't settle the question yet. "Check with" means the sources leave a point open.
At a glance
- No Social Security from this job 9: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio
- Also covered by Social Security 9: Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Wyoming
- Varies by employer 7: Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island
- Check with the system 9: Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Utah
- Not covered yet 16: Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia
State by state
| State | Earns Social Security? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| AlabamaTRS of Alabama | Check with TRS of Alabama The handbook's paycheck examples take out Social Security tax, which suggests coverage. No source says so outright. Only indirect evidence (FICA in a payroll example). Our data marks this as needing confirmation. | TRS Member Handbook (7-2026), p. 33, Tax Savings; Postretirement Employment Restrictions 2026 (10-2025)Alabama Social Security guide → |
| AlaskaAlaska TRS | No Social Security from this job Alaska teachers don't pay into Social Security for their TRS work. Any Social Security would come from other work. | TRS Information Handbook (2011), p. 21, TRS and Your Social Security Pension BenefitsAlaska Social Security guide → |
| ArizonaASRS | Varies by employer Most ASRS members also get full Social Security, but it depends on whether your employer has a Social Security agreement. Look for Social Security tax on your pay stub or ask your district. | A.R.S. 38-702(A), (B)(3)-(5); A.R.S. 38-703; A.R.S. 38-706Arizona Social Security guide → |
| ArkansasATRS | Not covered yet The ATRS handbook and planner don't say whether ATRS jobs are also covered by Social Security. | Arkansas Social Security guide → |
| CaliforniaCalSTRS | No Social Security from this job CalSTRS members don't pay into Social Security for CalSTRS work and won't get Social Security for it. You may still qualify for Social Security through other work or a spouse. | Member Handbook 2026, p. 8, Social Security, CalSTRS and youCalifornia Social Security guide → |
| ColoradoColorado PERA | Varies by employer For most members PERA takes the place of Social Security. Most PERA employers don't take part in it. You may still get Social Security from other covered work or through a spouse. | Your PERA Benefits (rev. Apr. 2026), p. 1, Program Overview; PERA Overview for New Members (rev. Feb. 2026), p. 7, Social Security; PERA Benefit Structure: Understanding Your Benefit Estimate (8/85, rev. 2-25), PDF p. 3, PERA and Social SecurityColorado Social Security guide → |
| ConnecticutConnecticut TRB | No Social Security from this job Connecticut TRB members don't pay Social Security tax on their teaching pay. | Social Security and Your CTRB Benefit (REV 12/22/17), p. 1; TRB webpage 'Social Security and CTRB' (saved Nov. 11, 2026); TRB webpage '2025 IRS 1099R Important Notices' (saved Nov. 11, 2026)Connecticut Social Security guide → |
| DelawareSEPP | Not covered yet None of our SEPP sources says outright whether SEPP teachers pay into Social Security. | Delaware Social Security guide → |
| FloridaFRS | Also covered by Social Security FRS members are covered by Social Security and Medicare. Social Security tax comes out of your pay. | Member Handbook (2026 ed.), p. 21, Social Security Coverage; Pension Plan SPD (July 1, 2026), p. 1, CreationFlorida Social Security guide → |
| GeorgiaTRS of Georgia | Not covered yet Our TRS of Georgia sources don't say whether TRS jobs are also covered by Social Security. | Georgia Social Security guide → |
| HawaiiHawaii ERS | Also covered by Social Security Hybrid and Noncontributory members are covered by Social Security. Contributory members may also be covered. Some Contributory members (such as police and fire) are not covered. | Hawaii ERS ACFR 2024, p. 11 (PDF 13), Plan Summary; p. 47 (PDF 49) and p. 48 (PDF 50), Note A.3Hawaii Social Security guide → |
| IdahoPERSI | Also covered by Social Security PERSI says you pay Social Security tax on Choice Plan savings, and treats your pension and Social Security as separate income. PERSI doesn't run Social Security. Ask the Social Security Administration about your own benefit. | HB pp. 15, 26, 55, 58Idaho Social Security guide → |
| IllinoisTRS Illinois | No Social Security from this job Illinois teachers don't pay into Social Security on TRS-covered pay. Teachers hired after March 31, 1986 pay the 1.45% Medicare tax. | Tier 1 Member Guide (Sept. 2026), p. 26, Ch. 13 Medicare and Social Security; TRS Benefit Information Meeting Tier 2 (FY27), slide 47Illinois Social Security guide → |
| IndianaTRF | Check with TRF The TRF handbook mentions Social Security tax on your pay but never says outright that TRF jobs are covered. Our data marks this as needing confirmation. Your Social Security statement at ssa.gov shows covered earnings. | Hybrid Handbook 07/01/2025, p. 31, Option 2; p. 36, §7.12; p. 12, Voluntary Post-Tax ContributionsIndiana Social Security guide → |
| IowaIPERS | Also covered by Social Security IPERS members pay Social Security tax. IPERS is designed to add to Social Security and savings. | IPERS Member Handbook (Updated July 2025), p. 12, Pretax Contributions; p. 3, Introduction; p. 9, IPERS' Role in Your Retirement PlanningIowa Social Security guide → |
| KansasKPERS | Check with KPERS KPERS benefits come on top of Social Security. One doesn't affect the other. KPERS data also says coverage depends on each employer's agreement with Social Security; confirm with your employer or KPERS. | KPERS 3 Pre-Retirement Webinar slides, slide 4; KPERS 1 & 2 Membership Guide (rev. 2/26), p. 2 ('KPERS and Social Security won't be enough'); KPERS Pre-Retirement Planning Guide for KPERS 1 & 2 (1/25), p. 4 (SSA 1-800-772-1213); KPERS Actuarial Valuation as of Dec. 31, 2025 (July 16, 2026), p. 151 (a covered non-school position 'is one that is covered by Social Security')Kansas Social Security guide → |
| KentuckyTRS of Kentucky | No Social Security from this job School district teachers pay into TRS, not Social Security. TRS replaces Social Security for them. University members pay into both TRS and Social Security. | TRS Basics 1-3 (Dec. 2021), p. 1, Membership; TRS 4 SPD (Jan. 2022), p. 6; TRS and Social Security web page (saved Nov. 11, 2026)Kentucky Social Security guide → |
| LouisianaTRSL | No Social Security from this job Teachers in TRSL's Regular Plan don't pay into Social Security. Plan B (school food service) members do. | TRSL Member Handbook (Apr. 2026), p. 3, How is my retirement funded?; p. 4; p. 23, Plan B key plan provisionsLouisiana Social Security guide → |
| MaineMainePERS | No Social Security from this job Maine teachers pay into MainePERS instead of Social Security. | MainePERS Teacher Member Handbook (2026), pp. 2-3, Membership; ExceptionsMaine Social Security guide → |
| MarylandTPS | Not covered yet Our Maryland sources don't say whether TPS members are covered by Social Security. | Maryland Social Security guide → |
| MassachusettsMTRS | No Social Security from this job Massachusetts teachers pay into MTRS instead of Social Security and earn no Social Security credits for it. | MTRS web page 'Social Security' (retrieved Nov. 11, 2026); Ready for Retirement 2026, p. 9Massachusetts Social Security guide → |
| MichiganMPSERS | Not covered yet Our MPSERS sources don't say outright whether MPSERS jobs are covered by Social Security. | Michigan Social Security guide → |
| MinnesotaTRA | Also covered by Social Security TRA's Coordinated members are covered by Social Security, and nearly all TRA members are Coordinated. A handful of older Basic members have no Social Security coverage. | TRA Actuarial Valuation July 1, 2025, p. 71, Coordinated Members: EligibilityMinnesota Social Security guide → |
| MississippiMississippi PERS | Check with Mississippi PERS PERS treats Social Security as one leg of retirement income, but its sources don't say outright that all teachers are covered. Our data marks this as needing confirmation. | PERS Pre-Retirement Guide (rev. Nov. 8, 2024), pp. 5-6, Follow the Three-Legged-Stool Approach; PERS Member Handbook (rev. Nov. 8, 2024), p. 47; PERS Board Regulation 5, § 101Mississippi Social Security guide → |
| MissouriPSRS | Varies by employer Most PSRS members don't pay into Social Security on PSRS pay. It depends on your district and position. Members in covered positions pay two-thirds of the PSRS rate and get two-thirds of the benefit for those years. | Handbook 2026-2027, p. 98, PSRS Members and Social SecurityMissouri Social Security guide → |
| MontanaMontana TRS | Check with Montana TRS Most Montana TRS members get Social Security after they retire, but no source states the coverage rule directly. Our data marks this as needing confirmation. | Montana TRS web page, Saving for Your Future; Fact Sheet: Termination Pay (Mar. 26, 2026), p. 1Montana Social Security guide → |
| NebraskaNebraska School Retirement System | Check with Nebraska School Retirement System Nebraska law and a legislative report point to Social Security coverage, but NPERS doesn't say so outright. Our data marks this as needing confirmation. | Neb. Rev. Stat. §68-601(2), §68-621(1)(d); Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee, 2022 Background Information, pp. 35-36 (Social Security Coverage); pp. 5, 6, 8 (State Patrol members do not pay into social security)Nebraska Social Security guide → |
| NevadaNevada PERS | Check with Nevada PERS An employer must leave Social Security before joining Nevada PERS. The sources don't say outright that school staff are excluded. Inferred from Nevada PERS policy. Our data marks this as needing confirmation. | Nevada PERS Official Policies (eff. Sept. 1, 2024), p. 84, Policy 12.26Nevada Social Security guide → |
| New HampshireNHRS | Varies by employer Almost all NHRS Group I teachers also pay into Social Security. A small number of employers don't take part. Check with your employer. | NHRS web page 'Social Security' (saved Nov. 12, 2026; modified July 22, 2026); NHRS web page 'Service Retirement: Group I Tier A & B' (saved Nov. 12, 2026)New Hampshire guides → |
| New JerseyTPAF | Check with TPAF NJ's planning guide suggests teachers pay Social Security tax, but no TPAF source says so directly. Our data marks this as needing confirmation. | TPAF Member Guidebook (July 2026) p. 34, Social Security; Retirement Planning Guidebook (March 2025) pp. 3-4New Jersey Social Security guide → |
| New MexicoNMERB | Not covered yet None of our NMERB sources says whether NMERB jobs pay into Social Security. | New Mexico Social Security guide → |
| New YorkNYSTRS | Not covered yet NYSTRS publications don't say whether your teaching service is also covered by Social Security. | New York Social Security guide → |
| North CarolinaTSERS | Not covered yet Our TSERS sources don't say whether TSERS jobs are covered by Social Security. | North Carolina Social Security guide → |
| North DakotaTFFR | Not covered yet The TFFR handbook only says retirees may get both TFFR and Social Security. It doesn't say whether TFFR jobs are covered. | North Dakota Social Security guide → |
| OhioSTRS Ohio | No Social Security from this job Ohio teachers don't pay into Social Security for their STRS Ohio work. | Plan Summary 2026|2027, pp. 2-3; LSC pp. 2-3Ohio Social Security guide → |
| OklahomaTRS of Oklahoma | Varies by employer Oklahoma teachers may take part in Social Security on a district basis, in addition to TRS. | 70 O.S. § 17-105(O)Oklahoma Social Security guide → |
| OregonOregon PERS | Varies by employer Whether you also pay into Social Security depends on your employer's agreement with Social Security. Check your pay stub or ask your district. | PERS webpage 'Oregon SSA 218' (saved Nov. 11, 2026); PERS webpage 'SB 1049 and HB 2296 Changes: Work After Retirement' (saved Nov. 11, 2026); PERS Employer Guide Ch. 1 (Sept. 2026), p. 29Oregon Social Security guide → |
| PennsylvaniaPSERS | Not covered yet Our PSERS sources say nothing about whether PSERS jobs are covered by Social Security. | Pennsylvania Social Security guide → |
| Rhode IslandERSRI | Varies by employer Some Rhode Island districts don't take part in Social Security. Teachers there get a survivor plan and extra savings instead. | ERSRI Member Handbook (10th ed., June 2020), p. 20, Teacher Survivors' Benefit; ERSRI Member Handbook (10th ed., June 2020), p. 41, Appendix A; R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 16-16-38, 36-10.3-3Rhode Island Social Security guide → |
| South CarolinaSCRS | Not covered yet The SCRS handbook doesn't say whether SCRS jobs are also covered by Social Security. | South Carolina Social Security guide → |
| South DakotaSDRS | Also covered by Social Security SDRS members are covered by Social Security. | SDRS Update (June 2026), slide 21, COLA Comparisons table ('Social Security? Yes' for SDRS); SDRS new-member newsletter (Dec. 2025), p. 1, Know Your Retirement Income Sources; SDRS Class A Foundation Handbook (July 2024), pp. 2, 11, 12South Dakota Social Security guide → |
| TennesseeTCRS | Also covered by Social Security TCRS members pay into Social Security. Your TCRS pension isn't reduced by it. | Retirement Checklist rev. 01/25, p. 3 (PDF page), For social security benefits; Legacy Member Guide 12/2024, p. 10; RetireReadyTN Return to Work Requirements, p. 3, FICA WithholdingsTennessee Social Security guide → |
| TexasTRS | Not covered yet Our Texas data doesn't record whether TRS jobs are covered by Social Security. | Texas Social Security guide → |
| UtahURS | Check with URS Utah law aims to extend Social Security to public workers, but URS sources don't say whether your job is covered. Coverage is set by agreement for each employer. Our data marks this as needing confirmation. | Utah Code 49-13-102(2)(a)(iii), 49-13-202; 49-22-102(2)(a)(iii), 49-22-202Utah Social Security guide → |
| VermontVSTRS | Not covered yet No VSTRS source says outright whether your teaching job pays into Social Security. | Vermont Social Security guide → |
| VirginiaVRS | Not covered yet The VRS handbooks don't say whether VRS teaching jobs are also covered by Social Security. | Virginia Social Security guide → |
| WashingtonWashington TRS | Not covered yet Our DRS sources don't say whether Washington TRS members are covered by Social Security. | Washington Social Security guide → |
| West VirginiaWest Virginia TRS | Not covered yet None of our CPRB sources says whether West Virginia teachers pay into Social Security. | West Virginia Social Security guide → |
| WisconsinWRS | Also covered by Social Security Wisconsin teachers are covered by Social Security and Medicare under state law. | Wis. Stat. s. 40.41 (4)Wisconsin Social Security guide → |
| WyomingWyoming RS | Also covered by Social Security All Wyoming RS Public Employee plan members pay into Social Security. | WRS Public Employee Pension Plan Handbook (Updated August 2026), p. 24, Social SecurityWyoming Social Security guide → |
What this means
Coverage is decided job by job. A state, or each school district, can have an agreement to put its employees under Social Security. That is why some states say "varies": one district may take part and the next may not.
If your teaching job has no Social Security, you can still have Social Security from other work or through a spouse. Your own state's guide explains how its pension and Social Security fit together.
Only the Social Security Administration can tell you your own record and benefit.
Questions
Do all teachers get Social Security?
No. In some states the teacher pension plan replaces Social Security for that job. In others teachers have both, and in a few it depends on the school district. The table shows what each state's sources say.
What does "varies" mean?
The state's sources say some employers or positions take part in Social Security and others don't. Ask your district's payroll or benefits office, or check your pay stub for Social Security (OASDI) tax.
Where can I see my own Social Security record?
At ssa.gov (my Social Security) or by calling the Social Security Administration. Your pension system can't answer Social Security questions.
Sources: each state's own handbook, statute or system publication, cited in its row. Last checked Nov. 12, 2026. Found an error? Tell us.